Michael Muldoon, Boy Scouts of America Troop 103 completed his Eagle Scout Project at Old Alvarado Park, Union City, in early April 2011. Visitors to the park will benefit from the improvements he and his volunteers have made.

Muldoon and his crew reseeded lawns, sowed wildflower mix and planted low-maintenance plants in the gazebo area where they also placed two new benches. Newly planted flowering trees and vines around the picnic and playground area will provide shade for park users.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America. A scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."

The Irvington High School student joined cub scouts in the first grade and became a boy scout in the fifth. He has earned a total of 26 merit badges, five more than the minimum 21 required towards becoming an Eagle; they include Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, Indian Lore, Oceanography, Personal Fitness and Personal Management.

The idea for the project arose from discussions with Union City Grounds Manager Nelson Kirk whom Muldoon approached at the suggestion of his friend Ryan Foo who has previously worked with Kirk.

"Personally, this project has been a great deal of work. Successful completion will be a milestone in my life and means I'm a step closer to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Achieving the latter also means I shall be the second child in my family to do so. In 20 years, I will be able to look back at my accomplishment and motivate myself knowing how much I accomplished," he reflected.

The 17 year-old plans on attending UC Riverside in the Fall to major in business and minor in the arts.

For more information about Scouting within the San Francisco Bay Area Council, visit www.sfbac.org. Alternatively contact Joe Barton at (510) 577-9227 and joeb@sfbac.org or Steve Armstrong at starmstr@comcast.net about the different scouting units in the Mission Peak District (serves Fremont, Union City and Newark) and Tres Ranchos District (serves Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and San Leandro).

For more information about Scouting within the Santa Clara County Council, visit www.scccbsa.org. Alternatively, contact Ken Schott at (408) 280-5088 or ken@scccbsa.org about the different scouting units in the Coyote Creek District (serves Edenvale, Evergreen, Milpitas, Berryessa, Alum Rock, Mt. Pleasant, parts of downtown and East San Jose).